Pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) face a heightened risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and dyslipidemia, according to a meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics.[1]
Researchers evaluated data from more than 276,000 patients with an ASD diagnosis and more than 7.7 million patients without such a diagnosis. The data came from a total of 34 different studies.
Overall, the group found that ASD patients were associated with an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and dyslipidemia. These patients were not linked to a significantly higher risk of stroke or hypertension.
The team did emphasize that there is no clear explanation for these differences, and ASDs may not even be directly causing these cardiometabolic diseases to develop.
“We don’t have data to support a conclusion that autism is causing these metabolic derangements, but since we know that a child with autism is more likely to develop these metabolic complications and derangements down the road, I believe physicians should evaluate children with autism more vigilantly and maybe start screening them earlier than the usual,” senior author Chanaka N. Kahathuduwa, MD, PhD, an assistant professor with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, said in a prepared statement.
The researchers do hope to learn more about whether or not ASD is causing these risks. Until then, Kahathuduwa noted, it will be important for both physicians and the family members of pediatric ASD patients to keep these associations in mind going forward.
“Our findings should also be an eye opener for patients with autism and parents of kids with autism to simply be mindful about the higher risk of developing obesity and metabolic complications,” he said in the same statement. “Then they can talk with their physicians about strategies to prevent obesity and metabolic disease.”
Read the full study in JAMA Pediatrics here.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.